*John 1:12 -- for as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.
In the 60’s Norman Lear produced a sit-com that revolutionized television (not necessarily for the good) in its blunt candor, in the topics it discussed, and in its depiction of a dysfunctional family living in New York. The family was headed up by a bigoted, opinionated blue-collar father named Archie Bunker. Archie was rude, crude, and said stuff that others thought but never said out loud. His treatment of others was abominable. He referred to his wife, Edith, as "Dingbat," and his son-in-law, Mike, as "Meat Head." Gloria, Archie’s daughter, married Mike, a hippy, and much of the tension in each episode revolved around the polar opposite opinions and outlooks of "Meat Head" and Archie. And yet, at the end of each episode, no matter how dysfunctional the family proved to be, in true 60’s sitcom style, it became apparent that down deep inside the members of the family actually did care about one another, and that they were indeed "ALL IN THE FAMILY."
A few weeks ago we looked at the Bible’s description or portrait of a godly family, the characteristics of a family that pleases God.
Today I want us to look at the Bible’s description of another family, the extended family He wants each of us to be part of...the family of faith...the church family.
I invite you today to open your Bibles and turn to the first chapter of John.
While you’re turning to that passage, it’s important that we recognize this initial truth about being a part of God’s family...
<>We are the Adopted, Chosen Children of God.
*Rom.8:15 - For you have not received a spirit of slavery...but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
*Gal.4:5 - so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
*Eph.1:5 - He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will…
"Adoption" was and still is a very important concept and carried great theological ramifications in Judaism:
<>It signified Love and Acceptance. -- The child was chosen to belong to the family of the adoptive father.
<>It signified Honor and Privilege. -- The adopted child received a co-share of the birthright of the first born (he who was at one point the "only begotten" of the Father).
<>It signified Security and Protection. -- An adopted child could never be disowned or "divorced," never cast out of the family.
Adoption is still very important and still a very beautiful practice, even in 2007.
It still signifies love, acceptance, and belonging, just as it did in Judaic / Mosaic Law.
But today, if a child is old enough to understand and make a choice, the child must give his/her consent, he/she must be willing to BECOME a child of the adoptive father.
Look again at John 1:12..."for as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to BECOME children of God, even to those who believe in His name."
John is telling us that God the Father sent Jesus, His Son, because of the Father’s love...as God’s way of providing the option of adoption to us.
In a very real sense we could say He made the Jews (those Jesus came to first) an offer they very much COULD refuse...and did refuse, for the most part.
Consequently, they remained separated from God, they remained OUTSIDE the family. -- And the same results occur even today for anyone who chooses to NOT accept Jesus.
SOME chose, however, NOT to reject Him; instead they chose to RECEIVE Him.
And to THOSE God bestowed His favor, and gave them the right to become children of God, members of God’s family.
Note: No one is "automatically" a child of God, meaning no one is a child of God without having made a choice to become one.
-- Sometimes I meet someone who tries to convince me that he or she has ALWAYS been a Christian, as if being born into a Christian family automatically made him or her a Christian. But that’s NOT how it works.
Instead, we CHOOSE to BECOME a child of God.
God "chooses," adopts those who choose to receive Jesus by faith as Lord and Savior.
*John 1:12 - for as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to BECOME children of God, even to those who believe in His name.
And, once we’ve received Jesus, once we’ve been adopted into God’s family, we become extended family members of one another.
Today, our focus is on how we as members of God’s family are to treat other Christians,
HOW WE ARE TO TREAT OTHERS WHO ARE "ALL IN THE FAMILY" OF FAITH WITH US...
1) WE ARE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
*John 13:35 -- "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
*1 John 4:17 -- "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God."
>The primary characteristic of a true believer, the main way someone will know that you are a Christian is NOT about how big your Bible is, how filled-out the blanks are in your discipleship notebook, whether or not you speak in tongues, how short your hair is or how long your hem lines are, or any other characteristic of that nature.
<>Instead, the primary characteristic of a true believer is that he or she loves other people.
When we love one another, the rest of the items in this list pretty much take care of themselves, and if we don’t love one another, it doesn’t really matter what else we do -- we will not have pleased God in how we treat one another unless we first love one another.
2) WE ARE TO RESPECT ONE ANOTHER.
*Ephesians 4:1-2 -- "walk in...humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love."
*Romans 15:1 -- "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves."
*Romans 12:16 -- "Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind...do not be wise in your own estimation."
*Ephesians 4:32 -- "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."
*ILL>In the 70’s a song said it well: We will work with each other, we will work side by side, and we’ll guard each man’s dignity, and save each man’s pride; and they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
-- The picture is that we guard each other’s dignity, we look out for one another and respect one another.
We can disagree on minor points here and there, but we are never to conduct ourselves disagreeably toward one another.
Instead, we need to recognize one another as each being members of God’s family, children of God whom God loves, and we are to treat one another with great respect.
3) WE ARE TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER.
*Galatians 5:13 -- "...brethren...through love serve one another."
*1 Peter 4:10 -- "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
*Matthew 20:26 -- "whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant."
<>There’s a two-fold picture of what it means to serve one another:
a) We’re to bear one another’s burdens.
*Galatians 6:2 -- "Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."
b) And yet, we’re to carry our own load.
*Galatians 6:5 -- For each one will bear his own load."
Wait, you say! How can we bear one another’s burdens but insist on each person carrying his or her own load at the same time? Sounds like a contradiction!
However, when you move past English and look at this verse in the original Greek it was written, you discover that there are two very different words used in these verses:
--The word translated "burden" in verse 2 means a load too big for one person to handle. We’re to pitch in and help one another when they’re dealing with something too big for them to handle on their own.
--In contrast, the word translated "load" in verse 5, however, would best be translated in 2007 English as backpack.
In other words, we’re to not be constantly relying on others to carry OUR portion of the work, to do FOR us what we should be doing on our own. When we are always ducking our own responsibilities and trying to shift the load over to someone else instead, we’re not SERVING them, we’re USING them.
<>So, we serve one another by helping them through the difficult stuff, but we also serve one another by carrying our own responsibilities -- we share the load of the ministry, we pull our own weight and spare others any wasted time brought on by our lack of responsibility.
4) WE ARE TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.
*Hebrews 10:24 -- "and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds."
<>We’re to take a pro-active approach, looking for ways and opportunities to encourage one another.
*Hebrews 10:24 -- "...stimulate one another to love and good deeds."
<>We’re to build one another up and help each other be prepared for the future.
*1 Thessalonians 5:11 -- "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."
*Hebrews 10:25 -- "not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the (last) day drawing near."
<>We’re to lift one another up during tough times.
>In times of temptation and weakness.
*Hebrews 3:13 -- "But encouraging one another day after day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."
We need to "be there" for one another, providing a "safe place" where other believers know they can come and be accepted, no matter how embarrassing their mistakes have been. They need to know they can rely on us during tempting times, challenging times, to be supportive and accepting.
By being there as a support group for one another we can avoid falling to temptations, falling into sinful activity.
>In times of sorrow and loss.
*Romans 12:15 -- "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."
We’re to experience life together with one another, to celebrate one another’s victories, and hurt alongside those who are hurting, providing a shoulder to cry on, as well as family members who will rejoice and celebrate with each other over personal triumphs.
5) WE ARE TO TALK TO ONE ANOTHER.
*Ephesians 4:25 -- "laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another."
As family we need to open up to one another about what we’re really feeling and experiencing, not hiding our feelings behind masks or phony platitudes.
Talking to one another can take various forms:
>Teaching one another, strengthening one another in the truths of God’s Word.
*Ephesians 5:19 -- "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord."
>Admonishing one another.
*Romans 15:14 -- "...I...am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another."
As family we’re to teach one another, but we’re also to speak the truth to one another in love, holding one another accountable...not being mean, but being supportive and helpful...telling one another what family and friends will tell you, even though others might never bring it up.
We admonish, gently correct, and hold one another accountable because we love each other and want the best for one another.
>Confessing our sins to one another.
*James 5:16 -- "Therefore, confess your sins to one another…"
--Note: This does NOT mean we go and confess everything we’ve ever done wrong in every area or every period of our lives to one another. That’s taking the verse out of context and is not at all what God intended.
<>Instead, there are two applications of "confessing our sins to one another" ...
a) Seeking forgiveness if we’ve caused hurt.
*Matthew 5:24 -- "...first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering."
It means that we’re to strive to be at peace with one another and to seek forgiveness for any hurt we might have caused someone else.
If we intentionally hurt someone, we’re to OWN UP to our part of the error, and seek forgiveness from the other person.
If it was unintentional, we’re to seek to CLEAR UP any wrong impression and make it right as best we can.
b) Being honest and open with one another about our personal weaknesses and needs.
*James 5:16 -- "confess your sins...so that you may be healed."
We’re to make available to ourselves the powerful resource of the support, encouragement, and prayers of other believers, and we’re to rely upon that support.
You see, after James 5:16 tells us to confess our sins to one another... he then tells us why it’s so important that we do so: so that you may be healed.
>The healing is also two-fold:
a) There’s a personal healing on the inside of ourselves as we cleanse our conscience and strive to clear up any misunderstandings or right any wrong we may have done to another, whether we intentionally hurt them, or unintentionally hurt them, or if we think they MIGHT have been hurt but aren’t sure.
Rather than walking around in a less than the best quality of relationship with another believer, and letting that eat away at our insides, we’re cleansed of our guilt and healed by no longer carrying it around with us.
b) There’s also healing brought about within the other person, and within the relationship itself.
The relationship is healed because we’ve taken the necessary and important step of confessing our weaknesses and allowing us to work it out among family, setting it behind.
6) WE ARE TO PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER.
*James 5:16 -- "Therefore, confess your sins...and pray for one another…"
We’re to be praying for one another all the time, even when there are no specific requests that have been mentioned...praying for one another just because we love one another and want the best for one another.
But when we’re asked to pray specifically, we’re to immediately and fervently pray for one another regarding the specific request.
Why? Because the last part of James 5:16 tells us that "the fervent and effective prayer of a righteous man avails much."
*ILL>Thomas Watson reminds us: "The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel."
BRINGING IT HOME...
If you’ve already received Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, meaning you’re already a part of God’s family, then I encourage you to today to take some time to hug the other members of the family of faith.
If you haven’t yet received Jesus as personal Lord and Savior, I invite you to make that choice today:
<>ADMITTING that you’ve disobeyed God and stand in need of His forgiveness
<>BELIEVING that Jesus is our heavenly Father’s one and only option for our forgivness: He loved us enough to send His only Son to live a sinless life and then offer His own perfect Self as a sacrifice for us, to satisfy the Father’s holy standard, and make possible our forgivness and enable us to become a part of God’s family.
<>CHOOSING to accept Jesus, by faith, as Lord (boss) of your life, as God the Father’s one and only way for us to be brought into God’s family.
I hope you will choose to receive Him today, so we can become family together.
When you do, it can be said in a proper way that we’re now "ALL IN THE FAMILY."
